Quarterfinals: David Bauer vs. Festus Resendez

Everyone that made the Top 8 had a record of 9-1, but David’s tiebreakers would let him be on the play for Game 1. Could David stabilize with B/g Devotion or would Festus get under him with his Mono-Red Aggro deck?

David played a Swamp as his fourth land to go alongside the previously played Mutavault and passed with open mana. Festus had another Zealot and bashed in so David used his Mutavault to trade with the Satyr then used a Bile Blight on the Zealot, and David dropped to 12. David went for a Thoughtseize to take a Lightning Strike from Festus, seeing a handful of good stuff with him being stalled on two lands. Festus hit David for two more and passed with no land or play.

David found an Underworld Connections and passed. David fell to 6 from another attack from the BTE then Festus unleashed a Rakdos Cackler and shipped it back so David went to 5 to draw a card. David could simply play a land and pass, but Festus found a Mountain and played Chandra’s Phoenix and sent in the team. David used a Hero’s Downfall on the Phoenix and fell to 1. David drew a card for his turn and packed in his cards.

Festus 1, David 0

Game 2

Festus makes his army of red creatures.

David went down to six while Festus was satisfied with his seven-card opener. David started things with a Mutavault and Festus had his turn-1 Satyr again, but David had the Pack Rat on turn 2. Festus attacked with his Satyr and David accepted the trade, so Festus played a BTE that allowed him to unleash a Rakdos Cackler. David followed his first Rat with another, but missed his third land drop. Festus played an Ash Zealot and bashed David down to 14.

David missed his land and had no play, but Festus dropped a Chandra’s Phoenix and sent the team into the red zone. David used his land and Rat to kill the Cackler and BTE, but fell to 10. David had no play again and Festus attacked David down to 6, and deployed a Boros Reckoner. David found no other play and died to Festus’ Fanatic of Mogis the next turn.